With great pain and sadness, we mourn the death of our friend, colleague and co-founder of the Arab Network for the Study of Democracy, Dr. Emad Siyam.

Emad, an activist and a researcher, spent years struggling for freedom, social justice and democracy in Egypt. He was arrested and sent to jail many many times in the 80s and the 90s.

In 2005 he took part in the "Kefaya" (enough) movement demonstrations opposed to Moubarak regime, and in 2011 he actively participated in the popular revolution that ended decades of despotism in Egypt.

Emad has been with us since the foundation of the network in 2006. He was also a consultant at the Library of Alexandria, and recently he was leading training sessions on civic education in Tchad and Burkina Faso.

He left behind him a beautiful family, lots of friends, comrades and colleagues.

We will always think of him, his courage, humour, devotion and optimism.